Work support for shoe machines



Aug. 28, 1945. F. ASHWORTH WORK SUPPORT FOR SHOE MACHINES s Sheets-Sheet 1 -Filed April 16, 1943 Aug. 28, 1945. s wo 2,383,529,.

WQRK SUPPORT FOR SHOE MACHINES Filed April 16, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 5 JVVE/VTUR.

Aug.'28, 1945. F, ASHWQRTH 2,383,529

I WORK SUPPORT FOR- SHOE MACHINES Filed April 16, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "26%? v //v VE/V 717R.

Patented Aug. 28, 1945 WORK SUPPORT FOR SHOE MACHINES Fred Ashworth. Wenham. Mass. assignor to i United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 16, 1943, Serial No. 483,276

I 25 Claims. (Cl. 11262) This invention relates to work supports for use in shoe machines, particularly machines of the type in which an operation is performed progressively around all or a substantial part of the periphery of the bottom of a. shoe, the shoe being oiT- the-last and carried by a supporter horn extending into the interior of the shoe.

\ In supporting a shoe from the interior in a machine of'the above-mentioned type, it is desirable, if not essential, that the shoe and the sole, which may be collectively termed the work, are effectively supported at or in the immediate vicinity of the operating point while the latter moves around the periphery of the work. Owing to the fact that a shoe is an object of irregular shape, considerable difliculties arise in attempting to'support a shoe, particularly a substantial range "of different sizes and styles of shoes, in

the above-described manner. The horn enters the shoe through the ankle opening, the shoe being presented bottom up to the machine. It is apparent that when the operating point moves along the shank portion and around the heel end.

' of the work, a substantially vertical supporting member is most suitable to the perfolmance of the task of supporting the work at the margin and at the operating point because these portions of the supported work are, so to speak, grouped around and substantially vertically above the ankle opening of the work. When, however, the operating point moves around the toe portion of the work which is remote from the ankle from being located beneath the toe portion of l the shoe and at the inside thereof.

In prior machines of the aforementioned type,

a compromise between a substantially vertical and a substantially horizontal supporting member was resorted to in providing a rigid horn, the shoe supporting portion of which is inclined; Inclined horns have been found to be quite satisfactory where the machine is intended to be used in operating only upon a small range of sizes and styles of shoes. Such horns, however, are less desirable for use in machines adapted to operate upon a wide range of sizes and styles of shoes.

- It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a shoe supporting member or horn for use in connection with a machine for performing a progressive operation along all or a substantial portion of the periphery of a supported shoe, of such type and construction that it will effectively and internally support shoes of a wide range of sizes and styles at the operating point while the latter moves around the periphery of the shoe.

With this object in View, the invention consists in the provision in a machine of the abovedescribed type or class of an articulated shoe support or horn in the sense that the shape and configuration of the horn may be varied by a variation of the relative positions of the different elements of which the horn is made up. Especially, the angularity of the member immediately supporting the work contacting member of the horn may be changed so as to enable the horn to accommodate a shoe placed thereon in every position it assumes during the progress of the periphery of the shoe past the operating point. The invention also provides means, under the control of the operator, for varying the shape and configuration of the horn and thereby for controlling the position of the said member for supporting the work contacting member of the horn in accordance with the requirements of the diflerent portions of the Work operated upon.

As shown, the horn of the invention may c0mprise a parallel linkmechanism carrying a shoe entering support for a work contacting member which preferably is in the form of a disk or roll and which is maintained at a predetermined fixed relation to the operating point during the entire machine operation. By a train of links and levers, the parallel link mechanism, which is normally maintained in a collapsed position by a spring is expanded, therebymoving the said support of the work contacting member relatively to the latter and changing the position or angularity of that supportto accommodae the interior of the shoe.

The above and other features of the invention, including. various novel details of construction and combinations of. parts, will now be more particularly described .with reference to the accompanying drawingsand will be pointed out in the claims. Y i

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a horn in which the invention is embodied-the horn being illustrated as applied to a lockstitch sewing machine of a type well-known in the art;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the horn inits collapsed position with a pre- Welt 'sho'e' supported thereon;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the portion of the horn illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, in front elevation, of a mechanism by which the horn is mounted on the frame of the sewing machine;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2., the horn being shown in its expanded position with a different portion of the shoe engaged by it; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of operator-controlled mechanism for expanding the horn.

A preferred embodiment of the horn of the present invention is illustrated in the drawings as applied to an outsole lockstitch sewing Inachine of well-known construction and operation. Only so much of the sewing machine is shown and described herein as is necessary for an under.- standing of the invention. For a full disclosure of the type of machine to which the invention is applied, reference may be had to United States Letters Patent No. 1,169,909, granted February 1, 1916, upon an application filed in my name. Normally sewing machines of the aforementioned type are not provided with shoe supporting horns, since the shoe is held in the operator's hand during the operation of the machine. In applying the horn of the present invention to a sewing machine of the type mentioned, the machine lends itself very satisfactorily to operating on prewelt shoes, that is, shoes having uppers with welts attached to their margins prior to the lasting operation. In particular, the operation is one of assembling the parts of the prewelt shoe off-thelast and attaching the outsole to the shoe bottom by a seam.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings, the prewelt shoe illustrated therein comprises an outsole A, an upper B with a strip of welt C attached to its marginal portion adjacent the shoe bottom. In the operation of the machine, the welt C and outsole A are progressively located in juxtaposition and are secured together by a seam, this operation proceeding around the entire periphery of the outsole A. Thus, the shoe upper B with welt C and the outsole A are assembled oiT-the-last and are united by stitching to form a complete shoe, save for some finishing operations.

The illustrated outsole lockstitch sewing machine is provided with the commonly known sewing and work engaging instrumentalities which are caused to operate upon the work while the latter is fed past these instrumentalities so that the sewing point moves along the periphery of the outsole A. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I0 is a portion of the main frame of the sewing machine. The illustrated principal sewing instrumentalities comprise a work table 12, a curved needle [4, a curved awl l6, apresser foot 18, an edge gage 20, a loop taker 22 and a looper 24. It is to be understood that the various operating instrulong screw 32 mounted in the machine frame [0 and threaded into the bracket 30. A socket member 36, which is one of the principal portions of the horn, is pivotally secured by a stud 38 to the bracket 30. The bracket is provided with a forwardly extending portion 40 which, as will be explained, serves as a stop to limit the tilting movement of the socket 36 aboutthe axis of the stud 385 To this endjthe-socket 86- is provided with a laterally projecting shelf 42 (Figs. 1 and 4) through which is threaded a vertical stop screw 44 held in adjusted position by a lock nut 46. As illustrated; the screw 44 engages the lower face of the forwardly extending portion 40 of thexbracketjilll. thereby limiting the tilting or pivotal movement of the socket 36 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. The lower portion of the socket 36 is provided at its rear with a rearwardly extending pin 48 on which is supported a spring 5|]. Pin 48 and spring 50 extend into a horizontal bore 52 provided in the frame I0 mentalities of the machine cooperate in timed relation and to this end they are actuated by well-known mechanism (not shown).

The illustrated sewing machine is provided with a so-called catchall 26 (Fig. 1), which is a basinlike metal bracket secured to the lower portion of the machine frame I0. In the particular instance, the catchall 26 conveniently serves to support the horn with which the sewing machine is provided. To this end, the catchall 26 is provided at its upper front portion with a horizontal guideway 28 in which is slidingly received a bracket 30. The bracket is adjustable horizontally in the direction of feed along the guideway 28 and is normally held in adjusted position by a of the sewing machine, the spring being seated in the bore. Thus, the spring 50 tends to impart pivotal movement to the socket 36 in a clockwise direction. Received in the socket 36 is the lower portion of a hollow post 54 in which a push rod 56 is mounted for vertical movement.- The lower portion of the push rod 56 extends downwardly from the lower end of the socket 36 and carries a spring 58, the upper end of which abuts against a shoulder 60 in the interior of the socket 36, into which the spring extends. The lower end of the spring rests on a collar 62 (Fig. 4) which is secured to the push rod 56. Accordingly, the spring 58 tends to move the rod 56 downwardly.

The post 54 is adjustable heightwise relatively to the socket 36. To this end, the post is pro-' vided with a clamping collar 64 above the socket 36, the collar being held on the post by a clamping screw 66. The collar, after having been firmlysecured to the post by the screw 66, rests upon the upper end of the socket 36, thereby supporting the post 54 in adjusted position relatively to the socket. As is apparent, the post 54 may be adjusted vertically with relation to the socket 36 by adjusting the clamping collar 64 along the post in heightwise direction and permitting the collar 64 and post 54, after tightening the clamping screw 66, to drop back upon the upper end of the socket 36.

To permit rotation of the post 54 about its own longitudinal axis, the clamping collar 64 is provided with a horizontal slot 68 having a circumferential extension of about The slot 68 is engaged by a horizontal pin ID which is secured in an upper extension 12 (Fig. 4)- of the socket 36. The rotarymotion of thev post 54 about its longitudinal axis is therefore limited to the extent of possible relative movement between the pin 10 and the slot 68, or, in other words, to 180.

The construction and mounting of the upper portion of the horn including the work contacting member and its immediate support will now be described. In the upper portion of the post 64 are secured two spaced diametrically extending fulcrum studs 14 and I6. Pivotally secured on the lower stud '14, at opposite sides of the post, is a double link comprising two members 18 extending forwardly from the post. Secured to the upper stud "I6 inside the post 54 and extending through a suitable aperture of the post and in the general direction of the double link 16 is a single link 80. The-outer or forward ends of the double link members 16 are joined by a pivot pin82 on which is rotatably mounted the lower end of a fork member 84 arranged between the hub portions of the double link members I8. Intermediate of the upper and lower extremities of the fork member 84,'the single link 80 is pivotally secured thereto by means of a pivot pin 86, the single link member 80 extending between the fork portion of the fork member 84. An inclined arm or support 88 is pivotally secured at 90 between the two upper extremities of the fork member 84. The

single link 80 is extended forwardly. beyond its pivotal connection 86 with the fork member 84 and is pivotally connected at its forward extremity by a link 92 with a forwardly extending portion of the arm 88. upper end of the arm 88 is a block or swivel member 94 on which is supported a sole engaging member 96 for internally supporting the shoe, this member having the form of a freely rotatable roll or disk. As illustrated, the roll 96 is rotatableabout asubstantially vertical axis. 'It is to be noted that the upper portion of the horn constitutes substantially a parallel link mechanism which may assume one end position in which it is collapsed, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, or'another end position,

in which it is expanded, as illustrated in Fig. 5

of the drawings. In the collapsed "position of the upper portion of the horn, the arm '88 supporting'the sole engaging roll 96 extends in a near vertical direction, whereas in the expanded position of the upper portion of the horn,the

arm 88 has .moved heightwise and extends in a near horizontal direction. The movement of the arm 88 from one position to the other takes place relatively to the sole engaging roll96 about the pivotal connection of the arm 88 with.

the swivel member 94.

theaforementioned double linkmembers 18 are pivotally connected at I intermediate their ends to. the upper ends of two parallel links 98 (Figs. 3'and 5), the lower ends of which are pivotally secured to the two extremities of a pinend of the push rod 56.

is, provided with two diametrically opposed heightwise extending slots I04 engaged by the two extremities of the pin I02.. As will be noted, the slot I04 also serves to limit the movement of the pin I02 and thereby the movement of the- 'lower ends of the parallel links 98 in .either direction heightwise of the machine. e

In order to move the push rod 56 heightwise ofthe machine in one direction or the other, the following mechanism is provided. The lower" end of the pushrcd 56 is rounded off, as illu'stratedat I06 in Fig. 6, and is engaged by a lever I08 fulcrumed at IIO to the machine'frame I0 and provided with a finished contact face II2 lying against the rounded lower end I06 of the push rod 56.

which is in meshing engagement with a gear segment II6 provided on theupper.portion of abell crank lever II8 mounted on a fulcrum" Pivotally secured to the At its rearward portion, the -lever I08 is provided with a gear segment H4 extending stem stud I20 secured in the machine frame I0. The bell crank lever H8 has a downwardly and forwardly extendingarm which carries at its forwardenda socket I22 engaged by a short vertical stem I24. The stem is held in adjusted position in the socket I22 by means of a set screw I26. 1 The stem I24 is provided at its lower end with a socket I28 engaged by a horizontally I30 secured in adjusted positionby a set screw I32. The forward end of the stem I30 carries a disk I34 on which is secured a cushion or pad I36 to be engaged by the I02 extending horizontally through theuppen To permit movement. ofthe pin I02 and the lower ends of the parallel; links 98 heightwise of the machine uponheight I wise movement of the push rod 56, the post 54 knee of the operator.

As has been explained, the spring 58 tends to move the rod 56 downwardly. As a result, the

pin I02 andlower extremities of the parallel links 98 are moved downwardly to the extent permitted "bythe slot I04." In the downward position of the rod 56 and the mechanism controlled byit, the upper portion of the horn assumes its collapsed position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In order to move the upper portion of the horn into its other extreme and expanded position, the operator applies pressure to the knee pad I36, thereby imparting a rotary motion to the bell crank lever H8 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 6. Consequently, the lever I08 is rotated in a clockwise direction, thereby elevating the rod 56 against the pressure of its spring 58 until the pin I02 abuts against the upper end of the slot I04. In this position of the pin I02, the parallel link mechanism of the horn assumes its expanded position.

,In' the operation of the machine, the operator places a shoe upper B provided with a welt C sewn to the'bdttom margin of the upper on the horn with the welt of the upper uppermost and lays 'anoutsole A thereon, the outsole resting loosely on the welt C extending more or less horizontally from the shoe upper. It is assumed that the assembling and sewing operation begins at the'shankportion on one side of the shoe and from there proceeds around the heel end along the shank portion on the other side of the shoe and from'there around the forepart ba'ck'to the starting point. The marginal portion of the sole and the portion" of the welt at the starting point are arranged in juxtaposition with their edge faces in vertical alignment. This positioning of the outsole and welt is facilitated by the fact that the outer edge faces of both the sole and the welt at the operatingpoint lie against the edge gage 20 of the sewing machine and that the inneredge face of the welt is engaged by the.

sole supporting roll 96 of the horn. The screw 44 (Fig. 1) determining the rearward position of the upper portion of the post 54 is preferably so adjusted that the roll 96 is maintained a distance from the edge gage 20 corresponding substantially to the width of the welt C. After the out-. sole A and the welt C have been properly positioned at the starting point, the machine operation is initiated in the conventional manner by the depression of a treadle, the presser foot I8 descending'upon the sole and clamping the sole and the welt against the work table I2 during a stitch forming cycle. each cycle, the work is fed forward one step'by the customary work feeding instrumentalities of the machine, the presser foot being raised somewhat during the feeding of the work. Thus the entire periphery of the shoe is moved past-the operating instrumentalities so that the operating After the completion of no longer obtains.

point is moved, so to speak, along the, entireperiphery of-the shoe. n

As has been mentioned, the horn, particularly the upper portion of the horn provided with the parallel link mechanism, assumes normally a collapsed position due to the provisionof the spring 58 and in this position,.the arm 88 supporting the sole engaging roll 98 extends substantially, heightwise of the machine. This position ofv the horn is most suitable foroperating along both shank portions and; around the heel end of the shoe because these portions of the shoe are located substantially vertically above the ankle opening of the shoe through which the arm 88 of the horn enters the shoe. As will be noted. the roll 96 of the horn is maintained by the spring 59 during the entire machine operation in vertical alignment with the longitudinal axis of the post 54.

When the assembling and sewing operation progresses to the forepart of the shoe, the favorable condition just described and illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, namely, of supporting the work at the operating'pointjby' means arranged substantially in vertical alignment with the post Particularly the operating point can no longerbereached by means ar ranged substantially in vertical alignment with the post and this is due to the obstruction offered by the vamp portion ofthe shoe upper.- Accordingly, in order to continue to support the work from the inside at the sewing point or operating point. it isnecessary to change the shape and configuration of the illustrated articulated horn to reach the sewing point by an indirect path, so to speak,-by which the vampportion of the shoe upper is cleared. This condition is brought about in moving the horn into its expanded position, as illustrated in Fig. 5, by the exertion of pressure against theknee pad I36. -In comparing Fig." 5 with Fig. 2, it will be noted again that. the sole contacting roll 96 has not changed'its relation to the operating instrumentalities of the machine, but that the arm 88 supporting the roll 96 and the parallel link mechanism of the .upper portion of the jack have been-moved into their other extreme position.

As a particular advantage' ofthe present invention, it may be pointed out that little work guiding action on the part'of the operator is required. The upper B and the welt C secured thereto are guided and advanced through the machine almost entirely automatically, due to the fact thatthe welt C is confined'between the edge gage 20 and the sole supporting roll 96 on both sides and is resting on .the work table I2. Upward displacement of the vwelt is prevented by the factv that the 'outsole .A is pressed upon the welt by the presser foot I8. The outsoleAitself is guided by the edge gage 20 and isheld in adjusted position during the sewing cycle by the clamping action of the' work table 12 and presser foot I4 and during the feed movement of-- the work,it'is accurately and reliably guided by the:

engagement of the feeding instrumentalities with the sole. After the entireperiphery of..the sole has moved past the operating point, the machine is brought to rest by the release of the treadle,

the operator having previouslyreleasedthe knee pad I36 after completion of the sewing operation around the forepart of the work,,with the result that the horn under the pressure of the spring 58 has automatically assumed again its collapsed position. The work comprisinga now complete,

' erating onthe toe portion of the shoe.

shoe with the outsole Apermanentlysecured to the-shoe bottom; is released fromthe machine by the automatic liftingoithe presser foot into its inoperative elevated position, whereuponthe shoe is taken off the horn andtthe machine. is ready for another assembling and sewing operation.

Having thus described the invention, what'is claimed is; r r l 1. In a machine for operating on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating progressivelyv along the periphery of a shoe, thecombination of an articulated, horn a part of which enters a shoe for internallysupporting the shoe at the operating point, and means for varying the shape of the horn to causesaid shoe entering part of thehorn to accommodate the shoe in every position it assumesduring the. progress of its periphery past the operating point.-

2. In a machine for operating on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating progressively along the periphery. of a shoe,.the combination of a sole engaging member for internally supporting a shoeprogressively along its entire periphery, a support for the sole engaging member the major portion of which is movable heightwise relatively to the latter, and means for controlling the. movement of the support.

3. In a machine for operating on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating,

progressively along the periphery of a shoe, a horn ior internally supporting theshoe at the operating point, said horn including a sole con tacting member maintaining a, fixed relation to the operating point during the entire progressive operation of said instrunientalities on the shoe,'.

and a support for said member capable of pivotal movement relatively to the latter to accommodate different portions of the shoe operatedupon.

5. In a machine for operating on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating progressively around the'entire periphery 'of a shoe bottom, the provision of "a member for interally supporting the shoe at the operating point,

a support [for said member extending into the shoe and movable between two end positions, and means for locating the support in one position when operating on the heel end portion of the shoe and for locating the support in another" position when operating on'the toe portion'ot the shoe.

6. In a machine for operating on shoes having arm supporting said roll andextending into the shoe, and operator controlled link'mechanism for locating the rm in one position whenbperating on the heel end portion of the shoe and for' locating the'arm in another position when'optom, the provision ofa member for internally,

.supportingthe shoe at theoperating point, an

inclined support for said memberextending into theshoe through the latters ankle opening, and

means for changing the inclination of the support relatively'to said member upon movement of-the ankle opening of the shoe relatively to the operating point. v I r 8. In a machine for operating on shoes, a sole engaging member for internally supporting a shoe, a support for said member movable rela-= tively to the latter, parallel link mechanism on which said support is pivotally secured, and means for expanding and contracting the parallel link mechanism'to movesaid support between two end positions relatively to said member.

. 9. -In a'machine for operating on shoes,- va sole ,engaging roll for internally supporting a shoe,

.engaginginstrumentalities for performing a, stepby-step operation on the shoe along the periphery'of its :bottom, a sole contacting member for supporting the smear. the operating point while the entireperiphery of the shoe is moved past the latter, and a support [for said member par tially extending into the shoe and movable relat ively' to said mem r, and operator controlled meansffor moving 'the support relatively to said member to accommodate ditfeifent portions of the shoe operated upon; I v

11. In a machine for operating on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating progressively alongthejperiphery of a shoe bottom, theprovision of a'sole engaging member for internally supporting thejfshoe at the operating point, asupportfor said member capable of movement relatively to the latter, parallel linkmechanism on which said support is pivotally secured, a heightwise adjustable post for carrying saidlink mechanism, and means acting on the post for expanding and contracting the link mechanism to move said support between two end positions relatively to said member.

12. In a machine for operating on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating progressively along the periphery of a shoe bottom, the provision'of a sole engaging member for internally supporting the shoe at the operating point, a support for said member capable of movement relatively to the latter, parallel link mechanism on which said support is pivotally secured, means for operating said link mechanism to move said support relatively to said member to accommodate different portions of the shoe operated upon, a post for carrying said link mechanism mounted for movement inwardly and outwardly of the machine, a fixed stop, and a spring acting on the post to move it inwardly against the fixed stop. I

13. In a machine for operating on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating progressively along the periphery of a shoe bottom, the provision of a sole engaging member for internally supporting the shoe at the operating point, a support for said member capable of movement relatively to the latter, parallel link mechanism on which said support is pivotally secured, means for operating said link mechanism to move said support relatively to said member to accommodate different portions of the shoe operated upon, and a 'post' for carrying said i link mechanism mounted for adjustment heightwise of the machine and for movement inwardly and outwardly of the machine.

. l4. In a machine for operating on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating progressively along the periphery of a shoe bottom, the provision of a sole engaging member for internallysupporting the shoe ,at the operating point, a support for said member capable of movementv relatively to the latter, parallel link mechanism on which said support is pivotally secured, meansfor expanding and contracting the link mechanism to movesaid support between two end positions relatively to said :member, and means for limiting the movement of the first-mentioned means in either. direction.

15. In a machine for operating on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities foroperating progressively along the periphery of a shoe bottom, the provision of a sole engaging member for internally supporting the shoe at the operating point, a support for said member capable of movement relativelyto the latter, parallel link mechanism on which said support is pivotally secured, a hollow post for carrying said link mechanism and provided with a slot, a treadle controlled rodmovable in thehollow post to act upon the link mechanism, and a pin carried by the rod and engaging said slot to limit movement :of the rod in either direction.

16. In' a machine for operating-on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating [progressively along theperiphery of a shoe bottom, the provision of'a sole engaging member for internally supporting the shoe at the operating point, a supportfiorusaid member capable of movement relatively to the latter, parallel link mechanism on which said support is pivotally secured, and a post for carrying said link mechanism, the post being mounted to rotate about its own longitudinal axis. i

17. In machine for operating on shoes having shoe engag ng instrumentalities for operating progressively along the periphery of a shoe bottom,'the provision of a sole engaging member for internally supporting the shoe at the operating point, a support for said member capable of movement relatively to the latter, parallel link mechanism on which said support is pivotally secured, a post for carrying said link mechanism of said post.

18. In a machine for operating on shoes, having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating progressively along the periphery of a shoe bottom, the provision of a sole engaging member for internally supporting the shoe at the operating point, a support for said member capable of movement relatively to the latter, parallel link mechanism on which said support is pivotally secured, means for operating said link mechanism to move said support relatively to said member to accommodate different portions of the shoe operated upon, and a post for carrying said link mechanism mounted for adjustment heightwise of the machine, for movement inwardly and outwardly of the machine and for rotary motion about its own longitudinal axis.

19. In a machine for operating on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating progressively along the periphery of a shoe bottom, the provision of'a' soleenga'ging memher for internally supporting the shoe at the operating point, a support for said member capable of movementrelatively to the latter, parallel link mechanism on which said support is pivotally secured, means for operatingsaid link mechanismto move said support relatively to said member to accommodate difierent portions of the shoe operated upon, and a post for carrying said link mechanism mounted for horizontal adjustment in the direction of feed;

20. In amachine for operating on shoes, the

combination with shoe engaging instrumentalities, of a shoe supporting member, means for adjusting said member in the direction of feed, means for adjusting said member heightwise of the machine, means pjer'mittingmovement of said member inwardly and outwardly of the machine, and means permitting "rotary motion of said member about its own longitudinal axis.

21. In a machine for 'operating'on shoes having shoe engaging instrumentalities for operating progressively along the periphery of a shoe bottom, the arrangement of a sole engaging member for internally supporting the shoe at the operating point, a support for said member caing progressively along the periphery or a shoe bottom, a horn having a shoe entering part and a shoe engaging portion for internally supporting the shoe at the sewing point while the shoe is moved past said point, and a gage for'determining the operative position of the shoe relatively to the sewing instrumentalities, the provision of means 'formaintaining the shoe engaging'portion of the horn in a fixed relation tothe gage, and means for changing-'the'shapeof the horn with relation to its shoe engaging portiorrtb'enable said horn part to accommodate different portions of the shoe with said shoe-engaging portion of the horn continuously supporting the shoe at the sewing point.

23. In a machine for attaching a sole "to'a prewelted upper/sewing instrumentalities'f or fattaching the welt or the prewelted upper to the sole, a gage contacting the edge-'face' of thesole and outer edge faceof the welt, a'member located within the upper and engaging the inner edge face of the welt a support for said member capable of movement relatively to thelatten-and operator controlled means for causing relative movement between said member and said support to enable the support to accommodate differentportiohs of the upper.

24. In a machine for attaching asole :8; prewelted upper, sewing -instrumentalities for attaching the welt of the pre'w'elte'd upper to the sole along the entire periphery bf the sole, a gage contacting the edge face of the sole and the outer edge ,face 'of thewelt, and amemb'e'r contacting the inner edge face of tne weitfsaid member being located within'th'e shoe upper and conti'n-' uously maintained in a position'spaced am:- determined adjustable "distance from the gage, the distance corresponding substantially'to the width ofthe welt." l 25. In a, machine for attaching'a sole to aprewelted upper," sewing instrumentalities for attaching the Welt of the preweltefd u per to the sole by a step-by-step operation progressing around the peripheiy of 'the sole; members fengaging the inner and outer edge races of the Welt to position the Well; relatively to the sewing in- "strumentalities, one or said "members also supporting the sole, and a "supportfor "the'last-nrentioned member "capable of movement'relatively "to the latter to prevent said support from inter- "'fering with the movement of the upper past the sewing point. I

- FJASHWORTH. 

